June Movies & More

Just as in May, I managed to see 18 movies, shows, series, etc. It is a wide selection and you should find a few things here that match your interests. Numbering picks up from previous months. Asterisks indicate programs I had not previously seen, and everything is rated on a scale of 1-5 tuna fish cans.

69. Restless - Being Paul Newman (PBS) – For most of his life, Paul Newman had to overcome the attention paid to his incredibly good looks and beautiful blue eyes in order to be accepted for his talent as an actor and a director. We should all have such problems, right? But think about his movies: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Hud, Hombre, Cool Hand Luke, The Verdict, The Hustler and its follow-up, The Color of Money, and my personal faves, Slap Shot, The Young Philadelphians and From the Terrace. He and his wife, Joanne Woodward, made a formidable Hollywood team (who resided in Connecticut), collaborating on movies as actors but also on movies that Paul directed, like Rachel, Rachel. This documentary was a great review of the outstanding work both accomplished in their careers. And looking at Newman is a treat for the eyes! 3½ cans.
70. Nothing in Common (1986, Movies Channel on cable TV) – I never hear anyone discuss this movie, but I love it. Hanks is a smooth-talking ad man in Chicago who chases women and runs great campaigns. He doesn’t pay much attention to his parents (Jackie Gleason and Eva Marie Saint, both standouts in their roles) until they separate after many years of a distant marriage. Their lives complicate his, especially when his father undergoes a medical crisis. This movie, in my opinion, deserves more acclaim. Catch it if you can. 4 cans.
71. MoviePass, MovieCrash* (2024, HBO) – MoviePass sounded like a great idea. You sign up, pay a monthly fee, and you can book a ticket to any movie, in any theater at any time. The company’s founders realized that they needed more capital to expand their business, have the technology and staff in place and that they should work with the movie theater chains. But the chains didn’t want to give up their share and the new investors took over the company, ousting Stacy Spikes and his business partner, Muta’Ali. Outside investor Mitch Lowe came in and insisted on dropping the price to $10 a month and amping up subscriptions, which meant that every single showing would cost MoviePass money they could not recover. This documentary shows how these arrogant businessmen kept promising what they could not deliver (profits, for example) to investors and a constant flow of movies to subscribers. I was one of them initially, and I remember how they kept changing the parameters; first the movies were unlimited, then they were restricted to only some movies and only so many tickets per month. Like so many movies about greedy “businessmen,” this one tells the whole ugly but fascinating story, right down to bankruptcy and criminal charges. But this one might just have a happy ending. 3½ cans.
72. The Notebook: The Musical* (2024, Broadway) – The Broadway musical version of the beloved tearjerker Nicholas Sparks novel cannot help but be compared to the movie version, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. If you haven’t experienced either of those versions of the story, you might be confused by the three sets of main characters here in Broadway, each portraying leads Noah and Allie at different stages of their lives. If you do know the story, then you can gird yourself for the inevitable ending and try to enjoy the love story as it evolves. While I will always prefer the movie version, I was nonetheless enamored with the actors and the innovative staging that included a rain sequence that made me worry that someone would slip on the wet stage. The performers had strong voices and gave their all to the largely forgettable songs, but each provided character information for the audience. At just the right moment, the predominantly female audience began sniffling and whipping out much-needed tissues. If you like schmaltzy stories of young and lifelong love, this one’s for you. 4 cans and a box of tissues.
73. Sue Bird: In the Clutch* (2024, Netflix) – Sue Bird defined the point guard position in women’s basketball for two decades. Even toward the end of her career with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, when she wasn’t as fast and couldn’t jump as high, she stayed on top because of her dedicated fitness regime and her smarts. Her college coach, the legendary Geno Auriemma, pushed her to excel (not that she needed much motivation; she is addicted to winning), and she became the smartest player on the floor. This fascinating documentary traces her career from Syosset to Seattle, with championships on the college and professional level and five Olympic Gold Medals. She is also the all-time WNBA leader in assists. Her no-look passes were a thing of beauty! She also became a leader off the court, pushing for equality, equal rights and social justice. If you’re a women’s basketball fan, even if you can’t stand UConn, you will love this. 4 basketballs.
74. Hit Man* (2024, Netflix) – Glen Powell is having a moment. The actor has popped up in multiple movies and has a major star turn here as a reluctant contract killer who secretly works for the police so he never actually has to kill anyone. He’s also a college professor. And he co-wrote the script. (Next, he’ll sell you popcorn…) His character is doing a fine job as an undercover operative until he tells one of his potential clients that she shouldn’t hire him to kill her husband, and then he falls in love with her (Adria Arjona). The movie was cute and entertaining, but I saw the plot miles away. Still, Powell has a lot of appeal and he’s just getting started. He needs a really GOOD movie to establish himself as the next George Clooney! 3½ cans.
75. Brats* (2024, Hulu) – If you watched such popular movies as St. Elmo’s Fire, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink in the 1980s, then you have seen the work of the infamous “Brat Pack.” Coined in a New York Magazine article, the term stuck – and in many ways haunted and halted the careers of Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe and Demi Moore, all of whom were perceived to be fast friends (they weren’t), entitled young actors (not really) who were taking over from the “old Hollywood.” Instead, the negative connotation of the term led to restrictions on their respective movie projects and overall careers. Many haven’t seen each other for 30 years. So Andrew McCarthy set out to make a documentary to examine the effect of the article and reunite with his former colleagues. All of them (minus Ringwald and Nelson, who don’t appear) acknowledge the negative aspects but admit to some good that came out of a shared experience they all endured. This movie is talky and preachy at times, but McCarthy seems like a thoughtful guy just trying to figure things out and share his thoughts with those who went through what he did. And Rob Lowe is still gorgeous! 3½ cans.
76. How Disney Made America* (History Channel) – A man, a vision and a mouse. This series, The Brands That Made America, on the History Channel covers the popularity of Disney and how Walt Disney is responsible for so much of today’s culture. From creating Mickey Mouse and the beloved characters to figuring out how to match sound with animated images, to creating the animations themselves, Walt Disney was a visionary with high standards of quality in every aspect of the operation. He created the concept of the theme park – not an amusement park with roller coasters and Ferris wheels, but a whole new world. He set the stage for merchandising tied to his movies and TV shows; when I was a kid, everyone wore those Davey Crockett coonskin hats! This 6-part series takes an-depth look at the origins that led to an empire. The part about building Walt Disney World on hundreds of acres of unused marsh lands in Florida was especially intriguing. 4 cans.
77. King of Collectibles, Season 2* (2024, Netflix) – Last year we were introduced to Ken Goldin, owner of a memorabilia company best known for its ability to find and sell some of the most iconic sports memorabilia. This year, Ken and company are going after items outside their usual fields of interest, including some of Reggie Jackson’s classic cars, lots of Pokemon cards and even a mummified hand purported to be from Cleopatra (good luck authenticating that one). It is interesting to see the kinds of things people collect and to see Goldin and co trying to talk big collectors into parting with some of their prized possessions. The joy on their faces comes for both winning the consignment on a really good collection (and their anticipated percentage of the sale) but also their enthusiasm in uncovering a genuine Honus Wagner card in great shape, or the torches used for the Olympic flame. This show is definitely not everyone’s bailiwick, but I got a kick out of seeing some of these rare and precious finds. 3½ cans.
78. Spamalot* (2024, Villagers Theater) – Somehow in the past 20 or so years, I never got around to seeing the musical Spamalot. But $18 tickets for a local production 10 minutes from my house were enough to get me there, and I am SO GLAD I WENT. The hysterically funny, clever script, brought to you by the Monty Python gang, had me smiling and chuckling for two hours. This production had a large and talented cast with plenty of juicy parts and captivating songs. The performers were in on the joke, hammed it up when appropriate and delivered a first-rate performance. There are so many jokes and homages included that you had to be fast on your feet to get the references to Fiddler on the Roof, Grease and other well-known shows. Every time I go to a local theater for an enjoyable performance like this, I tell myself I need to do this more often. I loved it! 4 cans.
79. Six* (2024, Chicago, live theater) – This exuberant musical tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, a scoundrel who beheaded two of them. The six actresses, who stay on stage throughout the rollicking show, dance and sing their way through their marriages and ultimate fates in a funny, risqué and extremely entertaining nonstop 90 minutes of live theatre. I happened to be in Chicago and a group of us spent a delightful evening enjoying this show. If it comes to your town, don’t miss it! 4 cans.
80. Federer: 12 Final Days* (2024, Prime Video) – When tennis great Roger Federer announced his retirement from the sport he dominated for 14 years as a champion, it attracted plenty of attention and tributes. He wanted to play in one last tournament, an exhibition called the Laver Cup, which brough his European team to London to face an American squad. This intimate account spares no emotion as he says goodbye to competition and especially to his dear friend and frequent opponent Rafael Nadal. Their beautiful friendship is highlighted. Federer will be remembered as an elegant, graceful player who always demonstrated his skills and respect for the game. Plagued with knee injuries, he knew his playing days were over, but he also knew how tough it would be to say goodbye. 3½ cans.
81.  Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini* (2024, Hulu) – This three-part documentary is another entry in the “Truth Is Stranger than Fiction” category. Maybe you remember the 2017 abduction of pretty young housewife Sherri Papini and how she remained missing for 22 days. Her anguished husband cooperated in every way with the police and FBI as they tried to find her. And then the story gets really interesting. No spoilers here, but you can’t make this stuff up. This compelling series is very well done and should not be missed for those who are interested in true crime drama. 4 cans.
82. Thelma* (2024, Manville Cinema) – Thelma Post (June Squibb in her first leading role) is a 93-year-old widow who does her needlepoint, goes to lunch with her few remaining friends and spends time with her loving grandson, who patiently explains to her how to work her computer. So when June gets a call, allegedly from her grandson Danny, she’s told he has caused an accident and she must send $10,000 to an attorney at a local address immediately. She follows the instructions and only later learns that her grandson is fine and she has been the victim of a scam. The police can’t do much about it, but Thelma is a force. She joins up with old friend Ben (Richard Roundtree, in his last role), and they hop on this electric scooter to pursue the bad guys, like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. Sure, there are plenty of stereotypes about older people, but they they are made with warmth and repect. Thelma is feisty, funny and resourceful, someone you would want on YOUR side when the action happens. Check out this sweet and lovely little movie, based on a true story. 4 cans.
83. Stevie Van Zandt, Disciple* (2024, HBO) – Best known as Bruce Springsteen’s musical brother for the better part of the last 50+ years, Little Stevie is so much more than a side man. He is a singer and songwriter, arranger, producer, manager, solo artist, a political activist who helped end apartheid in South Africa, and a notable actor. His Silvio Dante in The Sopranos was Tony Soprano’s consigliere, much as Stevie played that role with Bruce. This documentary covers all of the hats (and scarves, etc.) that Little Steven has worn since his early days performing in bands in Asbury Park. He is shown with wit, warmth and commitment. 3½ cans.
84. Owning Manhattan* (2024, Netflix) – As a fan of Million Dollar Listing, Selling Sunset and other shows about luxury real estate, I was naturally drawn to this new limited series about successful New York City real estate firm owner Ryan Serhant and his company. The series is much like Selling Sunset, expect that SS takes place in California so all the gorgeous, zillion-dollar properties have infinity pools. In Manhattan, the luxury properties have stunning views of the city and its iconic buildings. As in the other series, there is lots of office drama and pressure to sell ultra-expensive properties (Ryan & Co have an exclusive on a $250 million dollar penthouse that has to be seen to be believed). In just 8 episodes, one realtor and her team quit and another unscrupulous one had to be fired. The apartments are spectacular and I can’t wait for season 2! 4 cans.